Protective packaging apparatus for easily damaged objects



Nov. 22, 1966 E. ENGLISH, JR 3,286,834

PROTECTIVE PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR EASILY DAMAGED OBJECTS Filed Nov. 17, 1964 aiiwlllllllI//l/v//IIWZ'Q United States Patent ice 3 286,834 PROTECTIVE PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR EASILY DAMAGED OBJECTS Edgar English, Jr., Edwards, Calif. (P.O. Box 169, Rosamond, Calif.) 'Filed Nov. 17, 1964. Ser. No. 411,736 11 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the packaging art and, more particularly, pertains to an improved protective packaging apparatus and means for substantially completely protecting normally easily damaged objects from damage during either subsequent storage or shipment, and this despite relatively rough handling which may be given to the packaging apparatus or means itself. In other words, the novel apparatus of the present invention acts to very effectively isolate easily damaged objects from undesirable exterior environmental conditions so as to maximize the chances -of the objects being in good condition when subsequently removed from the protective packaging apparatus and means of the present invention.

In one application of the present invention, it may be intended for protecting easily damaged objects such as perishable food objects or the like, although the invent-ion is not specifically so limited in all forms thereof. In this particular application of the invention it will be found that the packaging of fruits and vegetables for shipment from a packing house or the like to a point of ultimate sale and utilization thereof normally requires that the food objects travel a very substantial distance, which requires a considerable period of time. It is during this period of time that the food objects may be very easily injured or damaged by bruising, crushing, or the like, during the multiple handling thereof which is required in first loading a truck or railroad car with the food objects (usually in various different types of prior art containers) and then in subsequently removing same from the truck or railroad car when a desired destination is reached. Sometimes this multiple handling occurs several times before a final destination is reached and this greatly increases the chances of the easily bruised or crushed food objects being injured to a degree such that when they are nally ready for display and sale to a retail purchaser, severe bruises for the like, or other visible `observab.e damage may have occurred to the food objects, which will render them virtually unsalable.

Some degree of deterioration-rninimization is now accomplished with respect to such food objects by refrigerating the vehicles transporting same. However, this only slows down rotting, bruising and crushing damage because of the fact that lowered temperatures slow down the rate of natural decay and decomposition processes.

However, the damage caused by bruising and crushing, which results from lack of physical protection for the easily damaged food objects, can only be provided by the type of packaging employed, and at the present time prior art packaging has serious disadvantages which may be roughly said to fall into two different categories as briefly described hereiribelow.

First, there is the type of prior art packaging for such easily damaged food objects which consists of very sturdy, structurally strong, outer containers often provided with compressible padding or filler material of one kind or another therein around each of a plurality of easily damaged food objects. In some cases, inner structural reinforcing lat various locations and/or levels throughout such a structurally strong outer container of fairly substantial size may be provided. Packaging and containers in this category may be said to be reasonably effective for protecting such perishable food objects, or the like, from crushing and bruising but are quite expensive and, addi- Patented Nov. V22, 1966 tionally, cannot he reused very many times without substantial breakage and, therefore, substantial replacement of major portions thereof, which further adds to the overall cost of this type package or container.

The second category of the prior art containers and packages for perishable food objects referred to above may be said to be relatively inexpensive but to be also very ineifective from the standpoint of adequately protecting such perishable food objects from bruising and crushing injuries or the like. This category includes containers such as bags, and the like, large volume relatively non-stilf containers of various kinds, bulk shipment, and, in general, arrangements wherein the perishable food objects are not encased in a rigid structurally strong manner by a very highly protective outer container or package Which will very substantially isolate the inner perishable food objects from all exterior impact and loading forces which the container may receive.

The novel protective packaging apparatus and means of the present invention substantially completely eliminates and overcomes the disadvantages of both of the above-mentioned prior art types of packaging and container arrangements for such perishable food objects. In other words, the novel packaging apparatus and means of the present invention provides very positive and highly effective protection from crushing, bruising, or the like, for such perishable food objects in a manner even superior to the rst above-mentioned prior art type of packages and containers `and yet does so in a manner which is extremely inexpensive.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel protective packaging apparatus and/ or means for one or more easily damaged objects and adapted to very positively isolate said one or more objects from exterior environmental conditions, withV particular reference to exterior impact and loading forces applied to the packaging apparatus and also with respect to vibratory forces applied thereto.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide packaging apparatus and means of the character referred to in the preceding object, which additionally includes compressible pad means therewithin isolating and separating each easily damaged object of a plurality thereof from each other and, in one preferred exemplary form, being of a nature such as to provide a large amount of hysteretic losses and, therefore, optimum damping for the minimization of any possible vibration-caused damage to said easily damaged objects positioned therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide packaging apparatus and/or means of the character referred to above, wherein at least the compressible pad material and, in certain forms of -the invention, also exterior portions of the apparatus therearound, are formed of an expanded-cell foam type material comprising a high eiiciency thermal insulating means whereby to provide thermal isolation in addition to mechanical isolation `to said easily damaged objects.

It is a further `object of the present invention to provide packaging apparatus and means of the character referred to above, intended primarily for packaging and protecting from deleterious environmental conditions easily damaged objects comprising perishable food objects or the like.

It is a further object of the present -invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to in the preceding object, provided with appropriately positioned ventilation aperture means for facilitating heat transfer and/or ventilation for use in packaging .those forms of perishable food objects wherein decay will be minimized by an initial quick chilling and/or a measure of ventilation.

It is a further object to provide packaging apparatus and/or means having the advantages referred to herein and including the features referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple inexpensive construction adapted for large scale mass manufacture at veryk low cost whereby to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the .art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments ofthe invention are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying single drawing sheet and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a reduced-size exploded three-dimensionalV view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the invention in exploded relationship prior to assemblyk thereof and prior to positioning a plurality of perishable food objects therein and subsequently sealingly closing the entire packaging apparatus for subsequent storage and/or shipment.

FIG. 2 is a top front three-dimensional view of the exemplary form of the invention shown in FIG. 1 after i-t is` assembled, filled with perishable food objects, and sealingly closed.

FIG.` 3 is a longitudinal central plane sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated bythe reference numerals 3 3 of FIG. `2 and is drawn to a somewhat larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in this view, -the perish-able food objects are `not shown positioned within the corresponding recess means `for reasons of drawing simplicity` and clarity.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary `sectional detailed view of just a portion of the cross section of the supporting inner stiffener wallY means of FIG.3, lying within the circle designated at 3A in FIG. 3, and is exemplary of one form thereof. l

FIG. 4 is :a top plan view of the s-tructural strengthimparting supporting stiifener wall means adapted to be positioned within ythe container of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and immediately inside of the upstanding side wall portions thereof, as is most clearly shown in FIG. 3, for vertically stiifening and supporting said side wall portions of the container to prevent vertical compressive collapse thereof under vertical loadings of large magnitudes. In this view, said inner stiffening wall means is shown in top plan view by itself with all other portions of the apparatus removed.

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to FIG. 3, although drawn to a reduced scale, but it illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention from that' shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view illustrating a modification of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5 and showing the portion of such a fied version thereof which would lie within the area of the circle designated at 6 in FIG. 3. y

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view illustrating a modification of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5 and showing the portion of such a modified version thereof which would lie within the area of the circle designated at 7 in FIG. 5.

Generally speaking, the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 14 may be said -to comprise container means, such as is generally designated at 11 and which is shown as being substantially rectangular as seen in plan view, :although the invention is not specifically so limited.

The container means 11 has an interi-or chamber 12 therein, which is the exemplary form illustra-ted, is of substantially rectangular plan view configuration and is adapted to be provided with :at least two vertically adjacent area-coextensive protective compressible pad means having at least two (and usually a plurality of) opposed mating vertically aligned recess means half `portions formed therein. vention illustrated, the `two vertically adjacent `areacoextensive protective compressible pad means are generally designated at 13, and the opposed mating verticallyV aligned recess means half portions formed therein are designated by the reference character 14H. This is true with respect to both the upper and lower protective compressible pad means 13 and the upper and lower recess means half por-tions 14H formed therein.

Each vertically aligned pair of recess means half portions 14H ltogether define a corresponding one of the above-mentioned complete recess means, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 14 and which is appropriately shaped for the `reception of a certain specific predetermined type of easily damaged.y

asan avocado or pear, as referred to above, is not shown since it is believed that such would merely render the drawing confusing and since such objects a-re well known and comprise no part of the present invention.

Also, it should be noted that the shape of the recess means 14 may be modified in correspondence with virtually any desired type of easily damaged lobject to provide the optimum maximum surface area contact therewith and the maximum extent of what might be termed a nested relationship within the corresponding recess means 14. This is desirable because it minimizes` any degree orf relative movement of the easily damaged object with respect to the recess means 14 carrying same, and this maximizes the degree of protection provided by the apparatus of the present invention to such easily damaged objects.

It will be noted that, in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the two compressible pad means 13 are in vertically stacked, vertically adjacent, area-coextensive relationship and have a substantially horizontal interface junction plane 15 therebetween. However, it should -be noted that the invention is not specifically `so `limited in all forms thereof. Indeed, in certain forms of the inventionthe pair of compressible pad means 13 maybe positioned adjacent to each other in a direction other than vertically adjacent, and the interface` junction plane 15; may be positioned other than horizontal, and there may be more than one such inter-face junction plane and, indeed, there may be more than two such compressible pad means or they may be broken int-o a plurality of laterally adjacent compression pad elements even when in an orientation similar to that shown in FIG. 3. All such arrangements are intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention.

It will -be noted that, in the exemplary iform illustrated,` the two compressible .pad means 13 are positioned within a particular type of containerY means, which is generally designated at 11, and which comprises a lower recessed container portion 11L and an -upper closure cover 11U cooperable therewith; said lower container portion 11L having a bottom wall portion 11B having four upstanding integrally connected side wall portions 11S adapted to forcibly resiliently frictionally receive the previously mentioned cover portion 11U therein in a position such In the' exemplary first form ofthe inas is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, Where it is positively resiliently and frictionally retained until forcible removal therefrom. Such forcible removal therefrom can be facilitated by reason of the hand-hold or Ihandle means formed in the closure cover member 11U as indicated at 16 and wwhich comprises flush-mounted inger-eng-ageable recessed handle means formed downwardly into the upper surface of the closure cover member 11U, thus providing no undesirable upward projections above the upper sunface of the closure cover 11U which would undesirably affect the vertical stackability of the complete container means 11.

Incidentally, it should also be noted that similar tiushmounted, recessed type, finger-engageable hand-hold or handle means are mounted in two opposed end parts of the container side walls 11S, as indicated at 17, and are of similar construction which, therefore, need not again be described in detail. Suffice it to say that they do not project outwardly beyond the side Walls 11S and, therefore, do not interfere with closely laterally adjacent stacking of other container means of the same type as the one illustrated at 11.

The complete container means 11 and the inner compressible pad means 13 described to this point are preferably made of compressible, expanded, surface-sealed plastic foam material having the desired qualities of resiliency and lightness for effective mechanical protection while minimizing over-all weight and, in a preferred exemplary form, also having desiredV hysteretic loss characteristics whereby to maximize optimum damping so as to minimize the effect of the vibration applied to the exterior of the container 11. Additionally, such material, in certain forms of the invention, may comprise a high efficiency thermal insulating means. One such material having the characteristics just referred to is a polystyrene (or, in certain cases, polyurethane) foam material which is of an expanded cell type.

The characteristics of said material with respect to thermal insulation and also with respect to hysteretic loss characteristics can be modified to a considerable degree by variation of the ratio of closed cells to open cells ranging from zero to 100% and also can be modified by including other ingredients in association with the polystyrene (or polyurethane) foam material; ingredients which increase (or decrease) the hysteretic loss characteristics and/or ingredients which increase (or decrease) the thermal insulation characteristics.

In certain cases, the outer surfaces of the complete container means 11 or the inner surfaces thereof, or both outer and inner surfaces thereof, may be effectively closed and/ or sealed with respect to the cellular or porous structure thereof. This may be accomplished in any of a variety of ways, such as by heat sealing same or by compressing said surfaces to a slight degree while heating same so as to close the surfaces thereof while leaving the interior portions of the material still in relatively expanded cellular form. Any of these arrangements are intended to be included and comprehended herein as being within the broad scope of the present invention.

The above factors maybe modified within the broad scope of the present invention to optimum relationships for the particular usage to which the particular containers are to be put.

The important point to note in connection with the above is that such a foam material is relatively weak in compression and, therefore, in order to maximize the degree of protection provided by the container 11 to easily damaged objects stored within the plurality of recess means 14, the invention also includes a structural strength-imparting supporting inner stiffener wall means of substantial compressive strength positioned Within the container 11 immediately inside of the upstanding side Wall portions 11S thereof and effectively vertically stiffening and supporting same to a degree such as to prevent vertical compressive collapse thereof under very high values of vertical loading up to a maximum vertical loading value of a predetermined magnitude.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the above-mentioned supporting inner stiffener wall means is generally designated by the reference numeral 18 and is individually shown in FIG. 4. It will be noted that, in the form illustrated in FIG. 4, it is Vshown as comprising a length of such material bent into the required rectangular configuration and joining itself at the junction corner indicated at I in FIG. 4. However, it may be formed so as to be integrally connected at all four corners, if desired. Y

In any case, its vertical height, as is best shown in FIG. 3, is such as to allow the bottom edge 18B thereof to lie within a corresponding rectangular receiving notch or recess 19B, while the upper edge thereof 18U lies within a corresponding notch or recess 19U in the underside of the closure cover member 11. This snug tting arrangement, as is best shown in FIG. 3, provides great vertical strength and compressive stiffness to the completely closed container means as shown in FIG. 3 to a degree such that it can withstand a very heavy vertical loading without crushing or buckling, and, thus, will fully protect any easily damaged objects carried within the recess means 14 from any damage resulting from such heavy vertical loading of the container means 11. This makes it possible to vertically stack a multiplicity of containers 11 to an extremely great height which facilitates shipment of large quantities of same in a very small space volume, which is extremely important when shipping perishable food objects in trucks, railroad cars, or the like.

The supporting inner stiffener Wall means 18 may be made of any suitable relatively lightweight inexpensive material having the desired degree of compressive strength to provide the desired degree of lvertical stiffening of the container side wall means 11S. It may be made of plastic, certain relatively stiff fibrous materials, and in one vextremely low cost exemplary form of the invention it may actually be made of a very high-eompressive-strength type of corrugated board or so-called cardboard of the corrugated type. Such high strength cardboard.can be produced by merely increasing the thicknesses of the outer wall portions thereof, as indicated at 18W, over the corresponding thicknesses of low-strength conventional corrugated cardboard, as is shown in the enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional View comprising FIG. 3A and, in certain cases, by increasing the thickness of the corrugated or tinted intermediate member 18C cemented therebetween. Also, any of said three members may be impregnated with strength-imparting plastic resins. By such modification of conventional low-strength corrugated cardboard, material can be readily provided which Will bear a compressive load of several hundred pounds, thus providing the desired degree of vertical compressive strength to the entire container means when provided with the supporting inner stiffener wall means 18 made of such high-compressive-strength corrugated cardboard material. This particular arrangement is highly advantageous since such high-compressive-strength corrugated cardboard material is very inexpensive. This is also true of the various other component elements of the .complete protective packaging means of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 4, thus facilitating the widespread use thereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary slight modification of the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, and, because of the great similarit similar parts are indicated by similar reference characters, primed, however, in the case of FIG. 5. In this modification of the invention, it will be noted that there are more than two vertically stacked, vertically adjacent area-coextensive protective compressible pad means-in fact, four such compressible pad means designated by the reference numeral 13. It will also be noted that, in this modification, there are three interface junction planes 15 between the vertically adjacent compressible pad means 13', and there are two vertically spaced horizontally directed sets of recess means 14 defined therebetween. The compressible pads 13 and the recess means 14' are similar in construction and function in substantially the Vsame manner as those previously described in connection with the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. This is also true with respect to the supporting inner stiffener wall means 18l (although it is somewhat higher than in the first form of the invention), and the remainder of the modified protective packaging means illustrated in FIG. 5.

Therefore, it is believed that a detailed description ofY said similar elements would be redundant since the full and rcomplete description set forth hereinabove in connection with the corresponding elements of the first form of the invention is completely applicable with respect to the slight modifications thereof existing in the second form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5. However, for purposes of variety, the top hand-hold 16 of the first form of the invention and the end-positioned side wall hand-hold means 17 of the first form of the invention are not shown in the modification illustrated in FIG. 5, although they may be included, if desired.

Also, for purposes of variety, the modified form of the invention shown in FIG.` is illustrated as being provided with a plurality of ventilation aperture means designated at 21 `and effectively communicating the exterior and interior of the modified container means 11 and also com.V

municating the plurality of recess means 13. This arrangement not only facilitates ventilation for a container adapted to be used for protecting perishable foodk objects which need such ventilation for minimizing deterioration thereof, but also increases heat transfer from the interior to the exterior of the complete modified container means 11', which may be highly desirable if the container` 11.is

packed. in a relatively warm or room temperature locai tion and then is subsequently moved into a refrigerated truck or railroad car. In such case, the ventilation apertures 21 will facilitate the rapid Icooling of the interior of the modified container means 11 and of the various perishable food objects carried within the recess means 14' thereof.

It should be noted that the apparatus may comprise one layer as illustrated in FIG. 3, two layers as illustrated in FIG. 5,`or any desired number ofv layers which may be either non-ventilated as shown in FIG. 3, completely ventilated as shown in FIG. 5, just interiorly ventilated between the various recess means, just exteriorly ventilated, or any combination of these arrangements.

FIG. 6 illustrates fragmentarily a slight modification of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 which would' be applicable to both the upper and lower compressible pad means 13 thereof. Since this is a modification, reference characters similar to those of FIG. 3 but followed by the letter, a, areused yto designate similar parts. It Will be noted that the modification of this form of the invention merely comprises having bothof the compressible pads, such as shown at 13 in FIG. 3 and the bottom one of which is shown at 13a in FIG. 6, integral with arid effectively comprising part of the corresponding vertical spaced walls of the container means, such as the bottom wall 11B shown in FIG. 3 and the top wall comprising the closure cover 11U of FIG. 3. The bottom wall alone is shown in FIG. 6 and is designated by the reference character 11Ba, and it will be noted that the recess half portions 14Ha are carried by the pad 13a which is actually the bottom wall 11Ba. This arrangement is also to be applied to a closure cover and top pan similar to those shown at 11U and 13,- respectively, in FIG. 3, but which are adapted to be integrally joined in the modification of FIG. 6. e

FIG."7 illustrates a modification of the same general type as indicated in FIG. 6,-but comprises a modification of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, parts `s imilal t9 1h95@ Q f FIG. 5 are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter, a, however.` It will be noted that this modification merely consists of having a single intermediate or middle compressible pad 13a in place of the two such middle pads13shown in FIG. 5, with upper and lower surfaces of said single pad 13a carrying in upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces thereof corresponding recess means half parts 14Ha.

The modifications of FIGS. 6 and 7 may be employed individually or in combination. Also, numerous other variations of the exemplary but non-specifically limiting constructions of the gures shown in the drawings are intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are'not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Protective packing apparatus for easily damaged ob-r jects, comprising: container means having an interior chamber therein and provided with at least two adjacent area-coextensive protective compressible pad means having opposed mating -aligned recess means portions formed therein, said opposed mating recess means portions cooperating with the similar adjacent aligned recess means i stantial surface areas of said easily damaged object where- Y by to firmly and protectively support same within said v recess means in nested relationship therein; and structural strength-imparting supporting stiffener wall means of i substantial compressive strength positioned effectively around said compressible pad means immediately adjacent to corresponding portions of said container means and effectively stiffening and supporting saine to prevent the compressive collapse thereof under compressive loading up to a predetermined maximum value,

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said con tainer means and said Vcompressible pad means are formed of a compressible expanded-cell type of foam material.

3. Protective packing apparatus for easily damaged objects, comprising: container means having an interior chamber therein and provided with at least two vertically adjacent area-coextensive protective compressible pad means having a plurality of opposed mating `vertically aligned recess means half portions formed therein, each of said opposed mating recess ymeans half portions cooperating with the similar vertically adjacent and aligned recess means half portions to define a corresponding plurality of complete recess means adapted to receive and protectively support therein a corresponding plurality of substantially similarly shaped and sized easily damaged` jacent to corresponding upstanding side Wall portions of said container means and effectively vertically stiffening and supporting sa-me to prevent the vertical compressive collapse thereof under vertical loading up to a predetermined maximum vertical loading value.

4. Apparatus as defined in claimV 3, wherein said container means and said compressible pad means are formed of a compressible expanded-cell type of foam material comprising a high-eiciency combination thermal insulating means and vibration and shock isolation means.

5. Protective packing apparatus for easily damaged objects, comprising: .container means having an interior chamber therein and provided with at least two vertically adjacent area-coextensive protective compressible pad means having a plurality of opposed mating vertically aligned .recess means half portions formed therein all formed of a compressible expanded-cell type of foam material comprising a high-efficiency combination thermal insulating means and vibration and shock isolation means, each of said opposed mating recess means half portions cooperating with the similar vertically adjacent and aligned recess means half portions to define a corresponding plurality of com-plete recess means adapted to receive and protectively support therein a corresponding plurality of substantially similarly shaped and sized easily damaged objects therein with said mating recess means half portions being in surface contact with substantial surface areas of said easily damaged objects whereby to firmly and protectively support same within said recess means in nested relationship therein; and structural strengthimparting supporting inner stilener wall means of substantial compressive strength positioned within said con tainer means immediately inside of upstanding side wall portions thereof and around said compressive pad means and effectively vertically stiffening and supporting same to prevent the vertical compressive collapse thereof under vertical loading up to a predetermined maximum vertical loading value.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said cornpressive pad means are provided with ventilation aperture means effectively interconnecting at least certain of said recess means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said con tainer means is provided with ventilation aperture means communicating the exterior and interior thereof and in interior communication with at least certain of said plurality of recess means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said container `means comprises a lower downwardly recessed container portion and an upper closure cover portion frictionally closingly insertingly cooperable with said lower container portion for effectively sealing and closing same :by forcible resiliently deectable insertion into the open top thereof.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said container means comprises a lower downwardly recessed container portion and an upper closure cover portion rictionally closingly insertingly cooperable with said lower container portion for effectively sealing and closing same by forcible resiliently deflectable insertion into the open top thereof, said lower container portion of said container means and said upper closure cover portion thereof being provided with ush mounted recessed fingerengageable handle means formed therein.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said compressible pad means comprises a corresponding wall portion of said container means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein a lowermost one of said compressible pad means comprises a corresponding lower-most wall portion of said container means and wherein an uppermost one of said compressible pad means comprises a corresponding oppositely positioned uppermost wall portion of said container means,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,539,140 5/1925 Palmer 217-35 1,908,940 5/ 1933 Weidel 206-65 3,049,259 8/196-2 Mazzi et al 217-265 3,096,879 7/ 1963 Schumacher 206-46 3,146,929 9/1964 Keim 229-25 0 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, IR., Examiner. 

1. PROTECTIVE PACKING APPARATUS FOR EASILY DAMAGED OBJECTS, COMPRISING: CONTAINER MEANS HAVING AN INTERIOR CHAMBER THEREIN AND PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST TWO ADJACENT AREA-COEXTENSIVE PROTECTIVE COMPRESSIBLE PAD MEANS HAVING OPPOSED MATING ALIGNED RECESS MEANS PORTIONS FORMED THEREIN, SAID OPPOSED MATING RECESS MEANS PORTIONS COOPERATING WITH THE SIMILAR ADJACENT ALIGNED RECESS MEANS, PORTIONS TO DEFINE CORRESPONDING COMPLETE RECESS MEANS, WITH EACH RECESS MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND PROTECTIVELY SUPPORT THEREIN A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILARLY SHAPED AND SIZED EASILY DAMAGED OBJECT THEREIN WITH SAID MATING RECESS MEANS PORTIONS BEING IN SURFACE CONTACT WITH SUBSTANTIAL SURFACE AREAS OF SAID EASILY DAMAGED OBJECT WHEREBY TO FIRMLY AND PROTECTIVELY SUPPORT SAME WITHIN SAID RECESS MEANS IN NESTED RELATIONSHIP THEREIN; AND STRUCTURAL STRENGTH-IMPARTING SUPPORTING STIFFENER WALL MEANS OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH POSITIONED EFFECTIVELY AROUND SAID COMPRESSIBLE PAD MEANS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO CORRESPONDING PORTIONS OF SAID CONTAINER MEANS AND EFFECTIVELY STIFFENING AND SUPPORTING SAME TO PREVENT THE COMPRESSIVE COLLAPSE THEREOF UNDER COMPRESSIVE LOADING UP TO A PREDETERMINED MAXIMUM VALUE. 